Folding leg table



Sept. 16, 1941. G. L. MOORE 2,255,933

' FOLDING LEG TABLE Filed Feb. 3, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 9;. 2 23 /JQggge l/Vaore.

Sept. 16, 1941. G. 1.. MOORE 2,255,938

- FOLDING LEG TABLE Filed Feb. 3, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 15 ZZ five/z07":

' Q07" e Z, fya /wz I l l I I I r -24 5 QMW L Patented Sept. 16, 1941UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING LEG TABLE I George L. Moore,Chicago, 111.

Application February 3, 1938, Serial No. 188,530

2 Claims. (01. 311-98) This invention pertains to table constructionand, more particularly, to a folding leg mecha-' nism by which the legsof a card table or other table or the like may be moved from a tablesupporting position to a position where they will be disposed in closeproximity to the table top, out

of the way.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a simple,efficient and economical construction and mechanism whereby a table legmay be moved to and will be held firmly in either its extreme foldedposition or in its other extreme position where it will support thetable.

Another important object is to provide a simple spring mechanism soconstructed and arranged that it may serve to move a table leg eitherfrom one extreme position to another or from an intermediate position toeither extreme positions. In this connection it should be noted that theillustrated embodiment is arranged to function in the last mentionedmanner but those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventionmay be utilized to effect a movement of the leg from one extremeposition to the other.

A further object is to simplify and economize in the construction of theleg mounting of a folding leg table or the like and, at the same time,provide a construction which is strong and durable.

Many other objects as well as the advantages and uses of the inventionwill be appreciated and understood after thorough consideration of thefollowing description andclaims of a preferred embodiment and afterviewing that embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of what may be referred to as a card tableincluding the invention in a preferred form and showing the table legsextended.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the table of Fig. 1 showingthe legs folded inwardly to positions where they lie substantiallyparallel to the table bottom.

. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan View on a larger scale than thescale of Fig. 2, showing certain details of construction in section, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the table top substantially alongthe line IV--IV of Fig. 3.

The table chosen for illustration comprises a top the construction ofwhich may be of any suitable character but here shown as having afoundation member 5 of wood covered with a material 6 such as linoleum,a more or less continuous sheet metal side rail generally designated 1,and four legs numbered 8. The edge portions of the wood foundation orbase 5 are bevelled or shouldered as indicated at 9 to a depthsubstantially equal to the cover thickness plus the thickness of the topflange ll of the side rail so that the top surface of the cover and thetop surface of the flange II will lie substantially flush with oneanother. The side rail has an upper inwardly opening channel section l2adapted snugly to receive the marginal edges of the top panel includingmember 5 and covering 6, and an outwardly opening channel section [3 thelower flange M of which may have a beaded or curled edge I5. The railmay be continuous about the table top with its ends drawn and securedtogether in any suitable manner or it may be made in a plurality ofpieces joined at the corners or intermediate thereof as preferred. Afterthe rail and top panel have beenassembled the top and bottom flanges ofthe top channel [2 may be rolled or pressed toward one another tightlyto clamp the panel or portions of either or both of such flanges mayhave portions depressed,

punched or staked into the panel margin to effect the same purpose.

During the formation of the rail or rails 1, portions of the web 16forming the bottom of channel l3 are punched or struck inwardly at thetable corners to provide spaced projections ll between which the upperend of a leg 8 is disposed and to which such leg end is hinged on apivot pin l8 the ends of which may be riveted over against washers I9 asindicated at 2|. At each side of the projections I1 and spaced areasonable distance therefrom another portion of the web [6 may bepunched or struck inwardly to provide reentrant angular pieces orprojections 22 to the adjacent side portions 23 of which leaf springs 24are anchored or connected.

Each leaf spring 24 is connected at one of its ends to a side portion 23of projection 22 by a pivot 25 whichmay be formed after the manner ofhinge pivot I8. The other end of each spring 24 is pivotally connectedwith the adjacent le 8 as by a pivot pin 26 which passes through the legand both spring ends and the ends of which are upset or riveted over. Itmay be noted here, although the purposes will be described fullyhereinafter, that the spring pivot 25 has an axis which may lie in aplane parallel to the plane containing the axis of hinge pivot l8 andparallel to the general plane of the table top, that the axis of pivot25 is disposed in a plane which may substantially bisect the anglebetween said plane containing the axis of pivot I8 and a plane perpendicular thereto and containing said axis of ivot I8 as bestrepresented in Fig. 2, and, that the springs 24 may be initiallytensioned or deformed slightly within their elastic limits (as indicatedby the bowing) when the leg is at either extereme position (closed oropen). 7

As previously mentioned the legs 8 are arranged to swing about theirhinge pivots I8 from closed positions or positions where they lie inwardagainst the bottom of the table top as illustrated in Figs.2, 3 and 4,to open positions where they extend at right angles to the table top asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 (dotted lines). In the last mentionedposition they are arranged to holding the leg thereat. Accordingly theinvention is to be viewed as of broader application than the single typeof construction shown and should be gauged only by its spirit and thescope of the appended claims.

I claim: .7 r 1. In a table, a top, a leg hinged by one of its 7 ends tosaid top, the hinge axis being disposed come to rest against stops 2'!which in the pres ent instance are formed by striking or punchinginwardly portions of the side rail memberweb l6. Other means may beutilized 1:91: PE- f I,

pose; 7

Since the springs since the spring pivots ,25 and 136 are farthest apartwhenthe legs are in either of such extreme pcsitions, due to thelocation of the pivots 25 with respect to the leg hingepivotsL8,itfollows that the --springs resist-'- movements of'thelegs fromeither: open or closed positions and tend to return the legs'to suchpositions until the axes" of pivots 26 have passed a dead centerposition with respect-to theplanes substantially containing the axes ofpivots 25 andis. At the-dead-center position the springs are"underma'ximum tension the nearest extreme position and: hold the legsfirmly in such-position. Many modifications may be devised. For In--stance; asi-ngle spring maybe used in place'of two springs in which casethe side of the :leg

opposite to the spring side may have to bebraced 24 are initiallytensioned; whenthe legs are in either extreme position and in a planesubstantially parallel to the plane of said top, said leg being'arrangedto swing about said .hinge axistfrom an extreme position where it liessubstantially parallel to the plane of the top to an extreme positionwhere it lies substantially at right angles to the plane of the top, and'a leaf spring pivotally connected by one of its ends to-said leg at'aplace intermediate of said to said top at a place spaced from said hingeaxis in the longitudinal direction of said leg and saidpl ane being'on aplane that is both parallel withsaid leg frame axis and intersects boththe leg' frame axis as well as the angle formed by saidfextreme legpositions whereby said spring will 'be submit-ted to an increasingstress as it reaches an intermediate position so that it will exert aforce on said leg as said leg moves to either extreme position, theforce being in the direction of 'said movement in line with said hingeaxis and the axis of the pivot connection of the spring and leg whensaid reg is in an intermediate position between said extreme positions,said spring being arranged to exert 'a maximwn force between said legand top when the leg: is in said intermediate position.

2,; In a folding leg table,-a top frame member; etlegpivqted at one endto said top frame member'for swinging movements between an extremeposition substantially at "right angles to the plane of said'top and anextreme position substantially parallel to the plane of the't'op, alea-f- 7 spring, means pivotally connecting one end of by a" swinging.bracket swinging with the leg.

Again, a coil or other tension spring may be substituted for the pair of'compression' leaf springs on a leg under whichcircuinst'ances thepivots 25 on, the fixed springanchorages will be moved to positionsbehind (as respects pivots 26)" instead of in front (as shown) ofhingepivots l8 to give the overthrow effect. Further more, the arrangementmay be'such that the legs may fold down to positions parallel te andalong the side rail at the table sides and other arrangements may bemade. Also as pointed out" in thebbje'cts, the spring and legconstruction may be such that the spring may'move the leg from oneextreme position to the other, that is from folded position to open,position or vice versa, in which case it may be necessary to provide acatch at the position'where the spring is distorted or tensioned mostfo'r the purpose of said spring to said leg between the leg-frame pivotand the other end of .the leg, and means pivotally connectingthe otherend of saidspring under' stress with said frame member, said lastmentioned pivotal connecting means comprising a pivot having an axislying in a plane that. is substantially parallel with said leg framepivot and which plane, substantially bisects'the angle itmovestowar'deither extreme position, tende ing to, urge saidleg to said position. 7

onoaen L. MOORE.

